Barking dog rules in Tualatin, OR — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Under TMC 6-14-040, it is unlawful to keep or permit any animal that barks, cries, or whimpers on a frequent or continuous basis for 15 minutes or longer if the sound is audible at neighboring properties. The rule applies 24 hours a day, not only at night.
Tualatin handles animal-noise complaints through the noise ordinance in TMC Chapter 6-14 rather than a separate dog-bark chapter. TMC 6-14-040 prohibits keeping, or permitting the keeping of, any animal that barks, cries, whimpers, or makes similar sounds on a frequent or continuous basis for 15 minutes or longer when the sound is audible within a noise-sensitive property or other affected neighboring property. There is no clock-based exception - the 15-minute frequency-and-audibility test applies at all hours. Active complaints go to Tualatin Police non-emergency at 503-629-0111, and Washington County Animal Services handles persistent issues. Documenting the dates, times, and duration of the barking is essential because the standard turns on the 15-minute threshold and audibility at a neighboring property.
Animal-noise violations are enforced under TMC Chapter 6-14 by Tualatin Police. Adopting Ordinance No. 1361-13 carries the chapter's penalties through the general penalty section TMC 6-1-210.
Tualatin, OR
Tualatin treats a vehicle left on a public street more than 24 hours that appears disabled or abandoned as towable under ORS 819.100. TMC 6-13-040(13) bars v...
Tualatin, OR
Abandoned vehicles on streets for over 24 hours may be towed at the owner's expense under ORS 819.100. Residential parking zones exist in areas near schools ...
Tualatin, OR
Tualatin does not require a permit for most residential fences, but the city's Fences handout requires a building permit for fences over 6 feet tall, fences ...
Tualatin, OR
Construction and placement of private residential fences are generally not regulated by the Tualatin Development Code, but fences over 6 feet tall need a bui...
Tualatin, OR
TMC Chapter 6-15 lets residents in the Low Density Residential (RL) Planning District keep up to four domestic fowl with a city license. Roosters, on-site sl...
Tualatin, OR
Tualatin Municipal Code 6-4-040 requires all animals to be restrained when off the keeper's private property. Dogs must be on leash in all city parks and at ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Washington County.
See how other cities in Washington County handle barking dogs.
See how Tualatin's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.